Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-12-27
District Government Affairs.
THE NEW PUMPING ENGINES.

Capt. SymOndS hopes TO have the new pumping
engines, to supply the 10th street standpipe, In
operation by the list Of February. The different
parts OF the machinery are now arriving. The old
engine will be removed TO the West Washington
pumping station and be used there as duplicate
engine IN case OF need. Two new engines one
duplicate TO be held in reserve will be erected al
| the stand-ppe pumping station.
THE COMMISSIONERS AND THE sCHOoI-BOARD BILL.
The District commissioners Will not give their
approval TO the school, board bill sent TO Congress
by the Committee or One Hundred. Mr.. Webb,
when asked about the matter BY STAR reporter,
said that the commissioners would take the same
stand as they did last winter when what was
The new bill, MIR. Webb said, embodied the same
principles as the one presented last year. 1t gave
power TO school board to do as /!
not relieve the Commissioners OF responsibility.
The Commissioners We're held responsible for the
administration OF affairs in the District, including
there was any deInBnd for the passage Of the new
school bill. 1t was apparently advocated by the
| same persons who drew up the other bill.
THE BRoSNAN LICENSE CASE.
No further action has been announced by the
District commissioners respecting the Brosnan
liquor license which the attorney for the District
counselled them to cancel. The opinion was sent
back to the attorney with request that he give
further consideration to certain points involved
and the Commissioners have not yet had a report
from him on these points. 1t was suggested to the
commissioners that the matter be taken TO court
through an agreement with Mr.. Brosnan and have
court, but this was not considered practicable.
The commissioners doubt whether they can revoke
Mr.. BrOsnan's license under the circumstances.
ERRORS IN THE TAx-sALE LIST.
The District Commissioners have written to First
Auditor Chenowith as follows: referring TO your
request for an explanation OF the errors appearing
in The delinquent tax list for 1887, accompanying
claim ~, 153, favor OF Dunlap and Clark for
81 $3.50. the Commissioners have the honor to
submit the following copy OF report OF the collector
OF taxes OF the District, which contains all the
Information the commissioners are able TO obtain
On the subject: The representations made by the
honorable First Auditor OF the United States
Treasury cannot be denied as the printed list re-
ferred 10 confirms hP statement. There is only
this extenuatiOn to b4made, that the time usually
provided for this purpose is entirely too short for
the size OF the work. After the posting OF the
ceiptS for the year ending June 80 or any year. the
time and force OF the collectors Office Is directed
with all Its main TO the collection OF the water
and August, and this branch Of collection
with other daily duties pertaining to the Office
leaves only the time between for this work; and
although the contractors express themselves as
able, and with the promise OF the matter being
furnished at the time stated, fully equal, am sat
being distant could not have whatever or super
vision the office usually gives to the publisher Of
the tax list. Ii has been usual, however, far as
my knowledge is TO make reasonable allowances
OPPOSED TO RErUNDING TAXES.
The Commissioners have enclosed to Mr.. Oliver
G. BlOckin, who asked whether back taxes paid on
property will be refunded in case the property Is
redeemed therefrOm, an opinion Of the attorney or
District saying: undoubtedly the certificate re-
quireS the back taxes 10 be paid before deed IS
delivered, after that-no redemption. Back taxes
no event Will legal back taxes, however paid, be
refunded by my advice"